Self-supporting building structure

Abstract

A generally pyramidal structure is formed by a plurality of sloping sides with adjacent sides abutting along a ridge joint which intersects a common vertex. The pyramid is truncated, thereby creating an opening transverse to one ridge joint and extending through the two adjacent sloping sides. The opening typically is closed by a vertical structural element. This pyramidal building design can be applied to structures of different sizes from small collapsible shelters, as substitutes for tents, to permanent buildings having multiple stories and/or adjoined units. The basic embodiment of this design has four oblique quadrilateral panels which form triangular openings along opposite ridges.

I claim: 
     
       1. A building structure comprising a plurality of sloping sides adjoining one another in the form of a pyramid with adjacent sloping sides joined along a ridge that extends downward from a vertex, said pyramid being truncated along at least one of said ridges below said vertex, thereby forming a first opening which extends through said ridge and two adjacent sloping sides joined at the one ridge, said building structure comprising first, second, third and fourth quadrilateral panels with each one having first, second, third and fourth edges in which the first and third edges oppose each other and the second and fourth edges oppose each other, wherein: the second edge of the first quadrilateral panel abuts the second edge of the second quadrilateral panel;   the first edge of the second quadrilateral panel abuts the first edge of the third quadrilateral panel;   the second edge of the third quadrilateral panel abuts the second edge of the fourth quadrilateral panel; and   the first edge of the fourth quadrilateral panel abuts the first edge of the first quadrilateral panel.   
     
     
       2. The building structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the first opening is closed by a substantially vertical wall. 
     
     
       3. The building structure as recited in claim 2 wherein said substantially vertical wall includes at least one of a window and a door. 
     
     
       4. The building structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the first opening is closed by a first wall joined to and extending substantially vertically from one of the two adjacent sides, and a second wall joined to and extending substantially vertically from another one of the two adjacent sides, wherein the first and second walls are non-coplanar. 
     
     
       5. The building structure as recited in claim 1 wherein the third edges of said first and second quadrilateral panels form edges of the first opening; and the third edges of said third and fourth quadrilateral panels form edges of a second opening. 
     
     
       6. The building structure as recited in claim 5 further comprising a first substantially vertical structural element closing the first opening, and a second substantially vertical structural element closing the second opening. 
     
     
       7. The building structure as recited in claim 6 wherein each of said first and second substantially vertical structural elements comprise a pair of non-coplanar walls. 
     
     
       8. A building structure comprising: first, second, third and fourth quadrilateral panels with each one having first, second, third and fourth edges in which the first and third edges oppose each other and the second and fourth edges oppose each other; wherein: the second edge of the first quadrilateral panel adjoins the second edge of the second quadrilateral panel;   the first edge of the second quadrilateral panel adjoins the first edge of the third quadrilateral panel;   the second edge of the third quadrilateral panel adjoins the second edge of the fourth quadrilateral panel; and   the first edge of the fourth quadrilateral panel adjoins the first edge of the first quadrilateral panel.     
     
     
       9. The building structure as recited in claim 8 wherein each one of said first, second, third and fourth quadrilateral panels has the second edge extending from the first edge at an acute angle, the third edge extending from the second edge at an obtuse angle, the fourth edge extending from the third edge at an obtuse angle, the fourth edge extending from the first edge at an acute angle. 
     
     
       10. The building structure as recited in claim 8 wherein each one of said first, second, third and fourth quadrilateral panels is oblique. 
     
     
       11. The building structure as recited in claim 8 wherein the third edges of said first and second quadrilateral panels form edges of a first triangular opening. 
     
     
       12. The building structure as recited in claim 11 further comprising a structural element closing the first triangular opening. 
     
     
       13. The building structure as recited in claim 12 wherein the structural element includes a window. 
     
     
       14. The building structure as recited in claim 12 wherein the structural element includes a door. 
     
     
       15. The building structure as recited in claim 12 wherein the structural element is formed of flexible material which has an opening with a closure mechanism for egress and ingress. 
     
     
       16. The building structure as recited in claim 11 wherein the third edges of said third and fourth quadrilateral panels form edges of a second triangular opening. 
     
     
       17. The building structure as recited in claim 16 further comprising a first structural element closing the first triangular opening and a second structural element closing the second triangular opening. 
     
     
       18. The building structure as recited in claim 8 wherein: the second edge of the first quadrilateral panel is attached by a first flexible connector to the second edge of the second quadrilateral panel;   the first edge of the second quadrilateral panel is attached by a first flexible connector to the first edge of the third quadrilateral panel;   the second edge of the third quadrilateral panel is attached by a first flexible connector to the second edge of the fourth quadrilateral panel; and   the first edge of the fourth quadrilateral panel is attached by a first flexible connector to the first edge of the first quadrilateral panel.